Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-01-13
OLD VIRGINIA SCENES.
SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE COUN-
TRY CROSS ROADS STORE.

Old Time Customs and Modes of Life
Peculiar to an Earlier Period-The
Jig and Juba.
The visitor from the wide awake and more
energetic northern or western states in pass
ing through Virginia will, first Of all, be at
tracted by the old time and decidedly anti
quated customs and modes of life peculiar to
an earlier period which still cling like thread
bare garments to the noble form of the old
commonwealth. Not the least interesting Of
these varied phases of existence in the once
wealthy state Is what might be very properly
designated as her cross roads life. This term
seems particularly appropriate to this class,
which is as extended as the boundaries Of the
state itself, and viii be met with in every
section, irrespective Of its agricultural ad-
vancement or social status. The inevitable
little store, the representative Of the class,
nestles cozily and quietly in its midst At
every corner the contracted catch-penny
store sits complacently awaiting the tardy
purchaser of its limited stock OF wares, con-
sisting of "little of ALL" as the merchant in
charge would say, while in reality limited to
a few every day articles necessary TO the
country folk around for whom the ordinary
shopkeeper caters.
THE COUNTRY MERCHANT.
These stores are in most instances kept BY
Virginia gentlemen whose property was
swept away by war, and who have calmly
settled into a dormouse state of slumber
within the shadow of the ghostly old guide
post at the cross roads to drone out bare
existence-a life as shadowy and unsatisfac-
tory as though absorbed and lost in Rip
VanWinkle sleep. 1t is somewhat amusing to
see with what address and elegance of man
ner these Virginia country merchants preside
over their unpretentious establishments,
while with the broad and other peculiarities
of accent and expression, which they declare
to be purely Elizabethan, they trace back for
centuries to an ancestor of the @blue bloodedn
aristocracy; later to first rank among the
"F F. Vs." and later still, to a colonelship-
never the rank of private-in the Confed-
crate army. or an intimate relationship with
some leader of athe lost cause"
In many of these stores is located the
country postoffice, the once lord Of the manor
becoming the duly qualified and recognized
representative of one Of the most extensive
and most important departments Of the
American government. The mails, in ex-
ceptional cases, are received daily; at other
remote places, semi-weekly, tri-weekly and
at others less frequently still
The mode of carrying the mails is in places
as quaint and primitive as that Of many
other sections of century ago, employing
carriages as ancient in appearance as the old
chaise of Washington's time, in some in
stances being carried on horses as dilapidated
as the revolutionary saddle upon which the
not less dilapidated messenger rides; and, in
deed the United States mail department iG
represented on foot.
A favorite expression, and one which seems
to have a soothing effect upon the dignifed
cross roads merchant and postmaster is Rbe-
fore the war;" what he did and how be lived,
and if then a seller Of wares and trader
in eggs and general country produce,
savored with regret, of the superior stock and
large sales "before the war;" but times have
changed, while, save in financial condition,
the merchant remains the same.
ON SATURDAY MIGHT.
Saturday night is the only time that the
average store throws off its quiet, sleepy way
of existence. The weeks work is finished, and
the colored population from far and near as
SefIlDio dO the place VI LdllCuul udIue 70 SpSuu
the results of their labors and pass much Of
the night in social dance, songs and jokes,
while the dignifed parsonage Of the duller
week day, in the "rlsh of business" becomes
Jolly and soeiable, and waits upon the colored
brotherhood with that ease and courtesy
which the southern gentleman possesses 30
well.
These local peculiarities Of life can in no
L ELL, .$oI -. II
citation, and no other means is so favorable to
this as tour on foot, being thereby thrown
in actual contact to a greater or less extent
with the more practical life of the people In
eastern Virginia, on one of the most pictur-
esque Of her numerous water courses, sits one
Of these little penny-a-day stores, seated on
the white sand beach, at the very waters
edge. The Pickering lights cast weird shad-
ows far out on the restless waves and serve IS
a beacon for the numerous fleet of small oys-
ter boats which pass daily TO and from the
deep sea home of the delicious bivalve. This
place is the most perfect representative Of
the particular class composing cross roads life,
though there is not road within a mile Of
the place-the river forming the great high
way.
This diminutive castle by the sea was visit
cu OH OdttuOd1 LASHb, WucA aoid1S HA1a AAens
and basking in all the glory Of Ebig night
It had assumed the boisterous revelry and
unrestrained pleasure of some bacchanal
feast. The oystermen for miles around had
assembled to engage in their varied pro
gramme, which commenced with some old
plantation song, sung in the rich though un-
cultured voice, full and clear, peculiar to the
southern negro. Then the accordion, jews
harp and violin played their several parts,
while the jig and juba-most popular negro
dances-demanded series of grotesque atti-
tudes and contortions of body. After days
journey over dusty roads to one unaccus-
toned to such scenes they have strange fas-
cination, and afford an amount of pleasure
which all the manufactured negro minStrels
and jubilee singers of the tinseled theaters
combined could never give.-Yorktown Wal
Cor. Baltimore American.